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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Grinch Placemats with Free Pattern

Here it is, my last Christmas project for the Holiday Craft Bash event! I'm so thankful that Meredith invited me to do this with her, because I've made some things I really love, and even better, my kids really love. To be honest, I've always been a bit of a decorating grinch myself. We put up a tree and hang our stockings each year, but that's about it. I always figured I'd make some more nice things for Christmas when we owned our own home and I could spend some time making it just like I wanted it. Some day.

But my kids don't care about any of that. They really like characters from TV and videos made up in brightly colored felt. No use trying to class it up. And surprisingly, I really REALLY love my new bright and kitschy feeling Christmas. My apartment looks like Santa's workshop this year. I'm gonna go with it.

So onto our project. These are some pretty fun placemats, but if you don't really fancy your kids sliming them, they are just as cute hanging on the wall.

For each placemat you make, you'll need:

A 13" x 18" piece for the top

A piece a bit larger than that for the back (fat quarters are great for both.)

Use the pattern sheet to cut out your felt. I like to trace the shapes on freezer paper for this.

Use spray adhesive to get all your pieces in place on the top of the placemat, the 13x18 piece.

Stitch around every felt piece with your machine using a straight stitch. Using all white thread is ok too.

Use your water soluble tool to add the facial features. Hand embroider in black using a basic backstitch.

Baste your backing, batting and top all together using pins or spray and quilt as desired.

Bind as you would a quilt.

*Not a quilter? Once you get your top appliquéd and embroidered, just place it right sides together with the back, along with a piece of fleece or sew-in interfacing under the back. Sew around the edges, leave a space open, turn right side out and top stitch the placemats.

I think my Cindy Lou came out looking suspiciously like someone I know well....

Be sure to check out my other Christmas tutorials in the sidebar, and visit Meredith, Debbie, and Jacey for some more inspiring yuletidiness.

And if you make any one of our Holiday Craft Bash projects, you still have a couple more weeks to add it to the flickr group. We have a great prize package for the sew-along finale, I'll let you know more soon!

16 comments:

Unbelievable! These are so darling! This might beat out the Bumble stocking for me. Now I really need to ruin my red, white, and black color scheme in favor of adding these place mats. I'm so glad you chose to participate in the Craft Bash!

Love your placemats and all the projects you've done so far! Is there a main post that links to all the projects including timelines, etc? I've gone to the flickr link and it only lists the first two weeks of posts and that's it, not sure if I'm at the right place. Would be nice if there was a central spot with everything listed and links to everyone's posts. You have everything nicely organized on your blog and I so appreciate it! Thanks for the wonderful inspiration :)

Regardless of whether you are sewing a cross-stitch or completing a project on embroidery with the use of your computerized embroidery machine, you will definitely have the occasions when you see some printable embroidery patterns printable embroidery patterns that are very beautiful to look at.The embroidery threads are available in various textures and colours to fit any palate.

My girls are looking over my shoulder while I'm checking blogs this morning (recently found yours because I just started sewing - love the Christmas projects!) and now my 6-year-old wants a placemat with Max the Dog on it. How/where did you come up with the drawings of the Grinch and Cindy Lou? I am no artist - can't draw anything to save my life. I don't know if I'll get placemats made this month but it apparently needs to be added to my sewing list.

Oh my gosh.........I am late but I am here........ !!! I love your stuff and now I have to get really busy if I am going to make some of this (and I am)......oh thank you so much for sharing, these are just too cute..let's see......grinch stocking for my 2 baby boys......(ok, so they're in their 30's....lol). Who placemats for my grandson and daughter in law and son...oh yes, here we go...........weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !

These are too cute! My son gets obsessed with the grinch each year! One question... how does the felt hold up to washing, I wonder. I've made a lot out of felt, but not anything that needs washing. I'm assuming you used good felt and not the less expensive craft felt? Love these!